Vitaly Borker Gets 4 Years for Threats, Terror Used to Boost Google Rankings

Vitaly Borker’s online reign of terror, once used as his SEO strategy, has earned the failed entrepreneur four years in federal prison. The former owner/operator of DecorMyEyes.com was also ordered to pay nearly $100,000 in restitution and fines as a result of his use of threats of rape, murder, and dismemberment to boost his Google rankings. Borker told the New York Times in 2010 that negative publicity had vaulted his site to the top of Google’s organic rankings. “I’ve exploited this opportunity because it works. No matter where they post their negative comments, it helps my return on investment,” he explained. “So I decided, why not use that negativity to my advantage?” It worked, for a while. DecorMyEyes.com did enjoy the coveted top organic position on Google for many terms, allowing Borker to repeatedly swindle and con consumers who believed the listing was a reflect...